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Back-to-School poll shows strong support for investments in post-secondary education, a message that Premier Clark needs to take more seriously says educators

VANCOUVER, Sept. 5, 2011 /CNW/ - "A majority of British Columbians give
the provincial government a failing grade on its handling of
post-secondary education," said Cindy Oliver, President of the
Federation of Post-Secondary Educators which represents over 10,000
faculty and staff working in BC's post-secondary institutions. Oliver
was referring to the results of an Ipsos Reid poll that the Federation
released today. The poll surveyed the views of 822 British Columbians
on a variety of education issues.

"It's quite amazing the degree of support there is on a number of
post-secondary education issues," Oliver added. "For example, 92% agree
that higher tuition fees make it harder for students to get an
education, 87% think tuition fees should be frozen or reduced, 84% say
student debt makes it harder to complete a degree and 78% agree that
one way to improve job prospects for young adults in BC is for the
provincial government to invest more in public universities, colleges
and institutes," Oliver noted.

"Unfortunately, the reality that we see in our post-secondary
institutions is that real per-student operating grants—the provincial
government's direct investment in our public institutions—have declined
by 8.8% since 2001. Over the same period tuition fees have more than
doubled and student debt has skyrocketed. None of these outcomes makes
post-secondary education accessible or affordable, two things that a
strong majority of BC voters want to see improved," Oliver stressed.

"Premier Clark has an opportunity this Fall to begin reversing course
and making the needed investments that the public supports. Hopefully,
these polling numbers will bolster her resolve to invest more in our
public institutions," Oliver concluded.